218 Bee
When Winchester introduced the .218 Bee in
1938, they probably figured that varmint shooters would buy any rifle as
long as it was chambered for a new twenty two caliber centerfire cartridge.
Obviously, their crystal ball was operating at less than full voltage, less
than 6,000 Model 65 lever action rifles were produced in this caliber. Had
the .218 Bee been introduced in the great Model 70 bolt action rifle, it's
fate might have taken a different twist. But it never happened.
In 1949 and 1950, the .218 Bee had it's second chance at fame and fortune
when it became available in the Winchester Model 43 and the Sako L-46, both
bolt action rifles. But the introduction of the
.222 Remington
cartridge in 1950 swept the Bee even farther under the rug, along with a
number of other factory made and wildcat cartridges of like caliber. Until
Marlin pulled it from the grave in 1990 by chambering Model 82 rifles for
it, the Bee was a dead cartridge. Remington had stopped loading the Bee and
Winchester was down to a single load.
Despite the dark cloud that seems to have always trailed the .218 Bee, it
is an excellent cartridge, one quite capable of clean kills on varmints up
to the size of groundhogs out to 200 yards or so. Due to it's relatively
low velocities, 40 and 45 grain bullets made with soft lead cores and thin
jackets for the .22
Hornet should be used when varminting with the Bee.
Best accuracy was recently squeezed from a Marlin Model 1894CL with a Speer
46 grain flat nose bullet pushed along in the neighborhood of 2700 fps by
H110, 2400, and
W-680 powders.
Source: Hodgdon Data Manual, 26th Edition
Historical Notes:
The 218 Bee, introduced by Winchester in 1938, was originally chambered in
the Model 65 lever action rifle, a modernized version of the Model 1892.
Considerable enthusiasm greeted the announcement of this cartridge, and many
magazine articles were devoted to comparing its superior killing power and
range to the 22 Hornet. Although criticized as being inaccurate, some Model
65's were capable of minute of angle accuracy. After WWII, Winchester brought
out the Model 43 bolt action rifle in the 218 Bee. Mechanical troubles developed
in some early models, and the rifle was discontinued. For a time, one or
two European manufacturers, such as Sako, and Krico, furnished small Mauser
type rifles in 218 Bee. At the present time, Ruger, Marlin, Thompson/Center
and Browning chamber guns for the 218 Bee. Cases can be made by necking down
a 25-20 or
32-20 brass,
then fire forming.
General Comments:
The 218 Bee has a larger case and somewhat greater powder capacity then the
22 Hornet. It
provides higher velocity and a greater effective range than the
22 Hornet, and
in a good single shot or bolt action rifle, its just as accurate. It is one
of the most economical small game or varmint cartridges available. On small
varmints it can be counted on out to 200 yards, but on coyote, bobcat or
the like, it cannot be depended on for one shot kills farther then 150 yards.
On rabbits or other edible game it is necessary to use full metal jacketed
bullets or reduced loads, otherwise it ruins much of the meat.
The Bee is easy to reload, and one can duplicate anything from the 22 Short
up to and exceeding the
22 Hornet. With
modern powders, the factory performance can be improved safely. By using
heavier bullets of 50 and 55 grains, its killing power and range can be
increased.
Although still a fine cartridge and useful for many purposes, the 218 Bee
has been largely displaced by the
223 Remington and
22-250
Remington. The 218 Bee, like the
22 Hornet, has
a relatively mild report compared to the more powerful 22 centerfires and
can be used under circumstances in which the larger cartridges would not
be acceptable. It is a better performer than the
22 Hornet and
its lack of popularity has always been a mystery. The Bee is the basis of
several useful wildcats. Ackley's version approximately equals the
222 Remington
performance. The 17 Bee Improved offers impressive short barrel performance.
Factory loaded ammunition is available from Winchester.
Source: Cartridges of the World
© www.reloadbench.com 1999 - 2012 All Rights Reserved